Fixed Wireless Internet: How It Works
Fixed wireless internet uses radio signals to deliver broadband from a tower to a stationary outdoor radio mounted at your home or business. Because the signal travels just a few miles over a ground-based path rather than to a satellite, fixed wireless delivers speeds, latency, and reliability competitive with wired services, even in rural areas.
From Your Devices to the Internet
The connection path: Your devices connect to a local Wi-Fi router. A patch cord connects the router to a Power over Ethernet (PoE) injector. A CAT6 cable runs from the PoE injector through the wall to an outdoor radio mounted on your home's structure. The radio beams a wireless signal to the nearest Hudson Valley Wireless tower. The tower connects back to the HVW core network via a hybrid of fiber and licensed microwave backhaul.
Your Devices and Wi-Fi Router
Phones, laptops, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles connect to your home Wi-Fi router. The router manages all your home traffic and connects via patch cord to the PoE injector.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Injector
The PoE injector combines electrical power and data onto a single CAT6 cable, eliminating the need for a separate power outlet at the outdoor radio. It is installed inside near your router and plugged into a standard outlet.
CAT6 Cable and Outdoor Radio
A CAT6 cable runs from the PoE injector through the wall to the outdoor radio. The outdoor radio is a compact, weatherproof unit mounted to your roof, fascia, wall, or pole and aimed precisely at the closest tower. Equipment models vary by location — Tarana is one platform deployed in select areas.
Wireless Beam to the Tower
The outdoor radio transmits and receives a focused wireless signal to and from the nearest HVW tower. This ground-based signal travels a few miles, delivering low latency compared to satellite internet.
Tower Backhaul: Fiber and Licensed Microwave
Each tower connects to the HVW core network using fiber where available, or licensed microwave point-to-point links for remote sites. This hybrid backhaul is what allows us to serve rural areas with reliable performance.
Installation
A site survey confirms line of sight and mounting location. Our technicians mount the outdoor radio, route the CAT6 cable, install the PoE injector, connect to your router, align the radio to the tower, and test your connection before leaving. Professional installation is included at no extra charge.